Lockheed to continue integration of Aegis combat system on US Navy ships

Lockheed Martin has secured a contract to continue to modernise Aegis hardware and software onboard the US Navy vessels.

The new ten-year contract for the next phase of intergrating the system includes options, which if exercised will bring the total value of the contract to approximately $428m.

Under the Ship Integration & Test (SI&T) programme, the Aegis Baseline 9 destroyer weapon system will be integrated onboard new Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, and will modernise destroyers and cruisers.

With the new configuration, the US vessels will be able to simultaneously defend against airborne threats, while also targeting and intercepting ballistic missiles.

Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Training SI&T senior programme manager Chris Minster said: "When a ship goes into harm’s way, the combat system must work 100% of the time, there is no margin of error.

"When a ship goes into harm’s way, the combat system must work 100% of the time, there is no margin of error."

"Whether it is designing a system for a brand new ship or working hand-in-hand with sailors pierside, Ship Integration and Test is there to deliver."

In August, Lockheed, along with US Navy and Missile Defence Agency’s Aegis Combat System, successfully completed a series of tests of the combat system’s air warfare (AW) and ballistic missile defence (BMD) capabilities.

The trials saw the first endo-atmospheric engagement of a ballistic missile target to show a Baseline 9.C1 capability.

Baseline 9.C1 is the new version of the Aegis configuration and comprises the current generation of ballistic missile defence programming, known as BMD 5.0 CU.